Need advice on Dark Sky locations in Victoria

[PhotonCollector (Paul)]

Hi all, soon I will be moving to Victoria and since astronomy and astrophotography is the passion in my life, I'm wondering where in Victoria I can move where the skies are still good enough to do astrophotography. My wife said somewhere north of Sales might be good. Will be looking to rent a house in the rural or country areas. Anyone have any suggestions or anyone live in Victoria that can offer some advice?

[Andy01 (Andy)]

This should help you.
Anywhere 1.5 to 2 hrs drive out of Melbourne will be ok.
I often do Ap from a mate's property at Kilmore.
The ASV has a very nice dark sky site near Heathcote, and there is also a popular astro camp twice each year at Snake Valley near Ballarat.
Cheers

Andy

[bojan]

My friend has a farm near Daylesford (~5km towards Trentham), and the LP from there is quite low, much better than what I will have when we move house to Ballarat.

Seymour was also not too bad two years ago when I was going there.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Northern Vic is better than down south...
I lived in Tooby/Heathcote for many years with great dark skies....
Down here on the Bellarine the wind is much more difficult and the sea mist is no good.

[Atmos (Colin)]

North Western Vic is probably the best if you don't mind the extreme heat of summer, Swan Hill and Mildura area. Probably more clear nights there than most of Vic but I've heard it can get a bit windy at times being so flat.

[PhotonCollector (Paul)]

Thanks a lot guys for those suggestions

[PhotonCollector (Paul)]

Originally Posted by Andy01

This should help you.
Anywhere 1.5 to 2 hrs drive out of Melbourne will be ok.
I often do Ap from a mate's property at Kilmore.
The ASV has a very nice dark sky site near Heathcote, and there is also a popular astro camp twice each year at Snake Valley near Ballarat.
Cheers

Andy

Thanks Andy for that screenshot, appreciate it

[pgc hunter]

Mildura for sure. Dark skies in every direction and has the most sunshine/least cloudy skies in Vic. Colin is not wrong about the wind, it can get pretty gusty, sometimes without warning or when only light winds are forecast. I've noticed that gusty conditions at night tend to occur just after a cold front passes through.

[h0ughy (David)]

Victoria!!! wow you guys are getting around. why not Bright?

[Wavytone]

If you're prepared to go as far as bright, there are two spots I have used before :

Lake Catani camping ground on top of Mt Buffalo is excellent, and beside Harrietville there is a disused gravel quarry, also excellent though it is in the valley so the horizon is up a bit, and this provides shelter from wind - virtually guaranteed to be calm at this site.

[pgc hunter]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

Victoria!!! wow you guys are getting around. why not Bright?

I think the hilly terrain messes with the seeing, I seem to recall Rob K who lives there complaining about crap seeing often.

[Wavytone]

Originally Posted by pgc hunter

I think the hilly terrain messes with the seeing, I seem to recall Rob K who lives there complaining about crap seeing often.

Interesting point. From the perspective of a paraglider pilot who has flown the area many times it depends where you are.

There certainly are areas where the area is extremely turbulent - rough as guts is an understatement - usually when the prevailing wind is across of diagonal to the direction of the ridge tops - and the seeing in the evening on a day like that is indeed dreadful.

But there is also another phenomenon where the air in the valleys goes glassy smooth if the prevailing wind is along the valleys. Seeing in that condition should be excellent and steady.